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Only those humble enough to recognize their need for Jesus will come to him. ""Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do." Mt9.12NLT—
Quick Bible Truths (@bibletruths) December 14, 2012
We celebrate this blessed milestone with a word from Our Lord Jesus Christ.
A marathon of tweets Friday night—worst of all times—gave a short history, with links, of the Forthright/GoSpeak efforts. When the American government releases news it doesn’t want anybody to take note of, it’s done on Friday nights.
But in my lonesomeness, with The Missus gone to a retreat (not a retweet), it seemed a good idea, so off we tweeted. Like this one,
Then came another big site to tell what God is doing among us, BrotherhoodNews.com. brotherhoodnews.com—
J. Randal Matheny (@jrmatheny) November 03, 2012
• Nothing sadder than progressives mouthing love and grace as a criticism of their brethren, and that in the public square before pagans. But they can’t do otherwise. For all their words, progressives are reactionaries.
• The crying prophet Jeremiah was so impressed with God’s instructions to buy the Anathoth field, and with the confirmation of that when his cousin Hanamel showed up and confirmed it, that he burst out in praise in chap. 32.16-25. Not far into that praise, he said, “You plan great things and you do mighty deeds” (Jer 32.19 NET). When God plans, it comes to fruition. What a comforting thought!
• Good friend and colaborer in works virtual, Richard Mansel, asks every Friday on Facebook what his buddies are reading. A great question. I used his weekly practice as part of an introduction this morning to Bible class. I’m teaching a series on the New Testament church. Today’s lesson, “The Reading of the Church,” literal translation. Better maybe, “The Church’s Reading Material.” Main verses used: Mt 22.31, Ac 15.22-31, Cl 4.16, 1Th 5.27, 1Tm 4.13, Rv 1.3. You don’t have to guess very hard to stumble on my direction with this class. (More …)
Facebook now includes icons for homosexual and lesbian couples in its relationship options. Some brethren are abandoning the service because of it. Apparently, they consider their presence on the service as crossing the line between being in the world and being of it, or approving of it. I invited one of them to TFR.
• Facebook seems to have become a more visual medium of late. More people post images, photos, and graphics. At least, my “friends” do. What about yours? Not sure why this trend has taken off. Maybe from influence from Pinterest. Or a general preference in our age for images over text, started in the 20th Century by television. A hard challenge for the gospel, this trend. (Remember our first step to salvation: hear?)
• Twitter is tightening up third-party access to its service, certainly within its right, but raising the wall to protect its proprietary model. Most recently, it has cut off LinkedIn.com from posting to its service. I like Friendica‘s approach: the Internet is our social media. Remains to be seen if commercialism will allow such ideas any elbow room. (Find me at randal@myfriendica.net.)
• Meanwhile, Google continues to skew search results, most recently by muzzling firearms retailers. They’re making it harder for you to find a gun online. Of course, this is not their first foray into socio-political filters. I’ve pretty well abandoned it for other good services like Duck Duck Go and StartPage.com. Remember: you got options.
• All of this is background for serving the Lord on the Internet. Where are the trends? In what direction are developments moving? How can Christians be effective on the web? Those who strive to tame the Internet beast for evangelism and edification want to have a bit of understanding of how it works. A tall task, but part of it.
Over on Twitter I asked and got no answer, perhaps because my tweet was in the midst of a flurry of others, perhaps because it was on a Friday night. So here goes my question: Prof. John Hick died a few days ago. Was he not in a debate with one of our folk? I have a book with his name on it in my library, which I’ve not seen in a few days, but can’t remember if it’s a debate book with a brother. Do you know?
• My personal Twitter account hit 7000 tweets last night. I noticed quite by accident, as I went looking for John H.’s username to recommend on the Friend Friday feature. (He’s got a numerical digits in his, so I have a hard time remembering it.) I thought it was a lot of tweets, only to discover that not a few friends (hi, Richard) have surpassed me by not a little. To tell the truth, I was actually relieved that I didn’t appear too chatty. Or wordy. Or wasteful of time. And, it must be added, I’ve been on Twitter for quite a long time. (Does Twitter anywhere show when we signed up?)
• Of course, if we were looking for big numbers and records, I could add up all my tweets across the various accounts. I’m embarrassed to name them all. There’s one for BNc, one for FPress, a couple, just a couple, in Portuguese. That’s all I’ll admit to right now. Oh, and I must get Quick Bible Truths in there. It has the most followers.
• A lot of congregational tweets suggest Bible readings: “Today’s reading is such-and-such book, chapter 555.” But no link. Why no link? If people are reading the tweet on the Internet, stands to reason that they might, just might be more likely to read if they have a link to a Bible chapter on the Internet as well. What do you think?
• Another question for you that got asked here before, but got no replies. Besides the NLT, are there any Bible sites out there with just the version—and a modern version at that, not the KJV or ASV—minus any manmade teaching materials or articles?
• The NLT publisher is smart: They set up a site for their version with a short URL perfect for posting, attractive, flexible, legible, easy to use, with just the Bible text (no articles or teaching material), and with no fancy, heavy graphics. It’s about as good as you can get. Though the NLT is not always my favorite rendering, I use the site a lot, because of the site quality.
• A last item, to recommend: David Kenney has broadcast the first Bible Talk of the Wadsworth congregation. Check it out, I’m sure he’d be encouraged by your visit.
Maybe that’s the one I’m remember, Ron. As soon as I get to my library, I’ll pull that Hick book out and see what it is. In my mind, I see a white circle on the cover. Funny what one remembers.
I’m migrating more to Twitter after unpinning the FB tab on Firefox.
Of the three Hicks debates books I have there is no image of a white circle, but there is on the Warren-Fuqua debate (same topic).
I am confused about the quality of one over the other – whether it is google, twitter, FB, or any others.
I’m almost certain I don’t have the Warren-Fuqua debate.
Once Friendica gets a few bugs worked out, I’m headed that direction. Not ditching the others completely, but liking it a lot for its non-commercial nature. (http//friendica.com) FB and G+ are data harvesters, which I don’t like. They all have their pluses and minues.
Thanks for the info. I will have to entertain some additional thoughts on that. **** Time to work on Zen Buddhism for a preacher’s retreat in June. Want to come again?
They’re all good for getting the word out, FB probably the best, then Twitter.
Would love to be there. What’s the date? I just might be in the US still around the first part of the month.
I think it’s June 4-6, but I went to the Fairfield website to do a confirm, and I got an “oops!” I FB’d Justin to let him know.
That date might just work, if I’m not having to be halfway across the continent reporting. Maybe I could work out with Eureka …
June 4-6 is correct for Dahlgren retreat. It’d be great if you can make it Randal.
I recall reading about a John Mark Hicks (a rising “star” back in the 70s, I think). I don’t remember any debates, however.
Let’s see how our itinerary goes. Thanks, Stephen.
John Mark and I were in the same class and dorm at FHU. He’s a progressive now. Wouldn’t be the same guy.
No problem. I should be toward the end of the spring work. You can come “work out” with me. Maybe we could go on a little hike again. It’s only been about 35 years since the last one!
I’d really hate to show you up on the work-out, since you’re all out of shape. Ditto for the hike. But we could do a mountain instead of the Grand Canyon. If that doesn’t cause breathing problems for you rarefied air. Oh, wait, no mountains Ill.
We have “mountains” in IL (north of Marion) – they are all “mountains” where they bury the garbage!
Hmm, WP bleeped out “in” twice in my previous reply. I used the toolbar to reply. Must be buggy.
Seriously, that is a time we should be able to work something out. Just let us know.
That comment sounded almost political, Ron. :) Those mountains would be a challenge to climb, for sure.
John Hicks??? I have no idea of whom you’re speaking… give some background please…
Will, there’s a link in the text to Hick’s obituary.
Hicks (not Hick) debated Andrew Connally. I had that book and lost it on the move here. Funny how that happens. I don’t know of a debate by Bro. Hick.
Prof. Hick (I had it spelled wrong in the post) isn’t a brother. It’s probably a book he wrote that I have, not a debate. Age is stealing my memory. (At least, now, I have that excuse.)
I am trying to start Thankful Thursdays among my friends. How you can help:
The Lord is worthy of all our praise and more.
“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You” (Psalm 63:1-3).
What a fabulous idea! We tend to complain about everything although we have everything!
Monday, July 11, 2011
AudioEvangelism.com is now on Twitter! Follow @AudioEvangelism on Twitter for the latest updates to our site.
The most sensible word I’ve heard lately was from a Twitter post which said:
“Maybe the USA should consider Mexico’s law regarding immigration.”
After reading their immigration laws, it might not be a bad idea:
I’m wondering if anyone in The Fellowship Room has ever heard of the “Restoration Christian Church”? I’ve heard of the Christian Church, but not the “Restoration Christian Church.” The following link comes from a Twitter posting: http://www.faithfulpreaching.com/index.html
Mike, I can’t say I have heard of it, but what I did look at it reminded me of material Gareth Reese (in commentary form).
Thanks for the info, Ron.
Here’s a site I found today while scanning some Twitter posts. This gives us an idea of what the Lord’s church is up against in foreign countries (as well as our own country).
Here is an interdenominational mission agency in Thailand that is promoting the idea that baptism is not a part of the conversion process, but is simply an afterthought, i.e. “if you want to” (note the last paragraph).
http://www.omfisaan.org/?p=431#more-431
This is why I added a question mark to the title of this article. Is God’s work really “continuing” with the promotion of this false teaching?
The devil is still hard at work deceiving folks (Revelation 12:9)..
While scanning the Twitter posts this morning, I came across this blog by a “pastor” that I thought was eye-opening: http://ht.ly/31NnY
I pray that the Lord’s church doesn’t start following this latest “trend.”
Several are mentioning, if not tweeting, PtP:
http://twitter.com/faughn4/ Adam seems to be doing some tweeting, like the Chuck Webster’s steps to financial freedom this morning.
Any others?
@PTP_2010 I haven’t seen any tweets from them, though.
Would be nice to be there but that wasn’t possible.
That account must have been for advertising ahead of time, reckon?
Yeah, Barbara and I talked about her going to do an exhibit, but we opted, bec of expense, for Harding Lecs.
PTP is expensive. A hotel room for a week in Sevierville/Gatlinburg is a lot of money! If you stay the entire week, you are looking at close to $1,000 for fees, food and housing.
If I had gone, I would have stayed with my parents and driven back and forth. They are about an hour from there, but it would have been worth it to save the money.
Read about a man who plans to tweet the entire Bible to his readers.
Social media sites, which allow for intense interaction between people, are all the rage. Young people check their Facebook accounts before reading email.
Of all countries, Brazilians are most likely to be involved in social media sites, 86% of the Internet users in the country do it, as I recall. (Their favorite is Orkut.)
So what part of the social media world do you dabble in? Facebook. Twitter. SaintsMeet.com. There’s a lot of them out there. And I know where some of you are, but not all. So ‘fess up. And tell us why you’re there as well.
As per yesterday’s BNc tweet (social media! squirrel!), Nick and Amy Fowler arrived yesterday in Belem, Brazil, joining their recently arrived teammates for a new work in this untouched (by churches of Christ) city. They’re sponsored, as I recall, by the Mount Juliet, Tenn., church, where my daughter-in-law Tansy was reared. My wife Vicki has exchanged emails with Amy’s mother off and on since last year when we were at Mount Juliet for Joel and Tansy’s wedding.
What other news of the churches is out there waiting to be shared?
GOD BLESS ALL OF U
I love news and look for it from a variety of sources. With the advent of new technologies, this pursuit has evolved. I never watch the local news and I don’t read a newspaper everyday because our local papers are too small or I don’t have a current subscription.
The main source of news for me is The Drudge Report and Fox News. I also read a large variety of news sites so I can be informed and do the “In the News” segment on my Moving Word blog. I have several news sites as friends on Facebook and I remain informed by them, as well.
The most revolutionary thing that has happened to news in years is Twitter. I can find out things there quicker than I can on the big news sites. In addition, I can learn things that these sites don’t publish. I have a lot of the newsmakers, reporters and insiders on my Twitter list. From them, I can get insider material and insight that I can’t get anywhere else. It is a truly remarkable thing.
"One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time."
John Piper
How true, how true!
Yet, Facebook and Twitter are great tools of teaching truth and sharing prayer requests. Brethren are helped worldwide via social media faster than any means ever invented.
There’s no question that our world has become much smaller because of our ability to quickly communicate with one another. Technology can either be a curse or a blessing, depending upon how we use it.
Here’s an interesting bit of irony. I just made that quote my Facebook status. Thanks!
Update on status. Only one comment thus far, and that didn’t happen until a few minutes ago. I don’t update my status often, maybe every couple of months, but I usually gets at least 3 or 4, if not 10 comments. Did it strike a nerve or was it simply ignored?
Probably, just didn’t register. My article yesterday on God’s Lady almost didn’t register, either. Then I posted something about an interstate and got a lot of comments. hmmm
I referred to the actual exchange on my personal website, but after a gentleman on Twitter quoted someone and agreed with the quote, I responded to it. I was concerned that it might sound haughty. He, however, replied, “That’s one of the best replies I ever had on Twitter.”
I savored that compliment for the remainder of the day.
Mike R (@montanastcoc) had some good thoughts about Twitter. I’d like to ask both Fellows and readers to insert their twitter usernames in the Reply comments, to be sure we have everyone available and accessible.
I’m also trying to resurrect a conversation about tags, since the “cofC” tag is pretty well taken by a college and “coc” in some furin language. At them moment, I’ve not proposed an alternative, but I’m leaning toward “chofch” or “chofchr.” When space permitted, I’ve used “churchofchrist” but that’s entirely too long. Shorter the better.
Now, your twitter username? I have several:
Personal: @jrmatheny
BNc: @brotherhoodnews
FPress: @forthrightpress
UPLift: @yourdaytoshine
Quick Bible Truths: @bibletruths
United Prayer: @unitedprayer (Mike R doing a great job with me here)
I know, entirely too many. So I won’t include the two Portuguese-language usernames and another inactive account.
Randal, If anyone wants to learn more about Twitter, here is the Twitter tutorial:
This is the latest article regarding the social network called “Twitter”:
http://www.itworld.com/mobile-amp-wireless/93692/twitter-fad-over-its-about-time
The article brings out the fact that only those who are die hard Twitter users remain faithful in using the service.
A quote from the article:
“The trend-followers, Oprah fans, curious tire kickers and others have gotten bored or frustrated and wandered away. Meanwhile, the kinds of people who can take advantage of Twitter are really getting into it and getting more out of it.”
Personally, I like the quick and concise communication concept of Twitter. You can’t “beat-around-the-bush” on Twitter. You’ve got to get what you want said in as few words as possible – not like the never ending talk shows on T.V.
It’s a very quick and practical way of promoting your congregation’s web site, a personal blog, or any other medium of spreading the gospel of Christ. We need to take advantage of every opportunity and means we have at our disposal in promoting the saving gospel of Christ – Twitter is one of those means.
I’m enjoying Twiiter. I am finding news is being delivered faster via Twitter than any other outlet.
For those of you using Twitter and Facebook, I’ve downloaded and am using TweetDeck.
With this software, you can post to both Twitter and Facebook accounts all at the same time, plus see constant updates in both accounts.
It’s a very practical piece of software and it’s free.
Will, and 3 others are discussing. 
Randal, I have over one hundred debate books and booklets. The only “Hicks” I have in any of those – as best I can recall – is Olan Hicks on MDR. **** With regard to tweeting, I am so “wet behind the ears” on that, that I do more perusing than anything else, and then I am not consistent.